During the current COVID-19 pandemic, most of us are taking extra care with our senior friends and relatives to mitigate their risk of catching this virus.

Seniors are in a high-risk group, first because of their ages, but more so if they have other underlying medical conditions.

There are, however, some small things that seniors can do to further reduce their risks. We’ve compiled for you a list of some easy tasks to incorporate into your seniors’ daily lives that may help reduce their overall risk.

Washing Hands

Wash your hands. A lot. And wash them the right way. Who knew that there’s a right and a wrong way? Wash your hands with soap and running water, soaping up each part of the hand, wrist, fingers, and fingertips. Do this for at least 20 seconds before rinsing thoroughly.

Some people set a little egg timer or a timer on their smartphone. There are even many popular songs that you can sing that will last 20 seconds, like the refrain from Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”

Wash your hands frequently: before and after eating, after returning home from any outing or food shopping, and definitely after you have touched something public like a stair rail.

If your skin is getting dry from all that hand washing, it’s easy enough to put a little cream on them before bed.

Keep Hydrated

Make sure you’re getting enough water to drink. Water makes everything work in the body. When the heat is on during these shoulder seasons, the air is very dry, and it’s easy to get dehydrated.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is very important for the body, and most seniors need at least seven to eight hours of it every day.

Getting enough sleep lowers your risk for all kinds of medical problems.

Reduce Stress

Try to keep stress at a minimum. These are scary times, and learning how to cope with them is important. Things that can lower stress levels are getting some exercise, learning mindfulness meditation, gardening, or any other hobby that occupies both the mind and the body—like knitting or doing crosswords.

We want our resident seniors to have happy and healthy lives, and we will do our best to help you weather this pandemic.

Cedarwood Station is an independent-living, senior community in Airdrie, Alberta, just north of Calgary. Guided by the tenets of Christian faith, and with a stellar staff and multiple amenities, Cedarwood Station, is the premier senior-living choice for the area.